site.btaAmbassadors, Experts Discuss Realities, Challenges for Refugees' Integration in Bulgaria

Ambassadors, Experts Discuss Realities, Challenges for Refugees'  Integration in Bulgaria

Sofia, January 22 (BTA) - The realities and challenges for the integration of refugees in Bulgaria were discussed here on Friday by Euroepan ambassadors, Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivaylo Kalfin, Deputy Interior Minister Filip Gounev, representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), of the European Commission's Representation in Bulgaria, the State Agency for Refugees, Sofia Municipality, the Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC), among others, the BRC's press service reported.

The integration of refugees is the possible way to deal with the current situation, said Dutch Ambassador here Tom van Oorschot. As a transit country Bulgaria has a constructive approach, he said, adding that what this country is doing to address the situation is highly appreciated.

UNCHR Representative in Bulgaria Roland Francois- Weil outlined the global scale of refugee integration. According to him, regulating refugees' obligations to the country they chose to be their home, is necessary for their integration. Those who find asylum should start contributing to the relevant country's development, while becoming ever more independent and adapting culturally and socially to their new environment.

Minister Kalfin said that Bulgaria is doing a lot for the refugees. There also many things that are yet to be done, such as providing training and retraining to refugees, which would lead to better integration and employment, he added. According to Kalfin, a mechanism must be developed for working with unaccompanied children, so that they are not leaving the country uncontrolled. Structural and focused joint efforts are needed on EU level for effectively dealing with the refugee wave.

Deputy Minister Gounev said that Eastern European countries have still not developed mechanisms for dealing with the situation, compared to other countries, where a large part of the population consists of migrants.